Locals raise money, awareness at Walk MS event

Photo By Shaun Kirby
Team Betty takes part in the Walk MS event in Narragansett on Sunday.

NARRAGANSETT–The morning fog lifted above the Narragansett Pier School this past Sunday, revealing clusters of bicyclists and walkers readying themselves for the journey through town. Families and friends conversed about their lives but more importantly about the walk for MS upon which they were about to embark.

“This is a great event,” said Erika Tavares, director of Marketing for the RI chapter of the National MS Society. “It raises awareness about a very misunderstood disease.”

400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million worldwide suffer from MS. The disease is referred to as an ‘autoimmune’ disorder and causes a person’s immune system to attack healthy tissue. Symptoms and their severity vary among those who suffer from MS, from extreme fatigue to paralysis. The ‘Walk MS’ event gives those affected by Multiple Sclerosis a chance to raise awareness about the disease.

“I have MS, and this is my 2nd year going,” said Sherry Carberry. “The MS society has been great to me, and it is good to give back and help others.”

Participants walked either a 10K or 5K route through Narragansett, starting from the Pier School at 9 am. Organizers estimated that more than 500 people would partake in the event. The walk was open to all, yet many raised money by forming teams, raising at least $75 to wear a t-shirt.

‘I have a close family member with MS,” said Ashley Morrison of the 35 member Team Bailey. “This is our 6th year, and we love it. We have a lot of fun trekking along the seawall.”

“Ashley and her team have sponsored a really big dinner in the past. [These teams] go above and beyond what is expected,” said Tavares.